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BBC Hijacks 22,000 PCs In Botnet Demonstration

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the yeah-demo-that-please-sure dept.

An anonymous reader writes "'[The BBC] managed to acquire its own low-value botnet — the name given to a network of hijacked computers — after visiting chatrooms on the internet. The programme did not access any personal information on the infected PCs. If this exercise had been done with criminal intent it would be breaking the law. But our purpose was to demonstrate botnets' collective power when in the hands of criminals.' The BBC performed a controlled DDoS attack, 'then ordered its slave PCs to bombard its target site with requests for access to make it inaccessible.'"

7 of 457 comments (clear)

  1. why use botnet by fredan · · Score: 5, Funny

    when you can use slashdot!

    1. Re:why use botnet by Spazztastic · · Score: 5, Funny

      when you can use slashdot!

      Well, a botnet is probably faster. By the time your article gets through the submission queue the target would probably have gone offline along with the sun burning out.

      --
      Posts not to be taken literally. Almost everything is sarcasm.
    2. Re:why use botnet by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Funny

      The botnet is not stronger. But it is quicker. Easier. More seductive.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    3. Re:why use botnet by Piranhaa · · Score: 5, Funny

      This demonstration never really took place. They made up a bogus story that will get Slashdot to DoS the site for them.

  2. Re:Breaking the law by jeffmeden · · Score: 5, Funny

    Don't worry, it was a "low value" botnet... That makes it OK.

  3. Re:Breaking the law by Dr+Caleb · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's an electrically charged net that we use to catch runaway robots. Like the Ethernet we use to catch the EtherBunny.

    --
    "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme." Mark Twain
  4. Re:Breaking the law by Gryften · · Score: 5, Funny

    The EtherBunny is the one that runs around anaesthetizing kids to commemorate the ressurection of Jesus, right?